Two mosques under attack in Lahore, Pakistan

Nearly 100 people are killed and 120 more injured in two attacks in Lahore, Pakistan. Two mosques, Dar-ul-Zikr and Bait-ul-Noor, of the minority Ahmadiyya Muslim Community came under attack in a hostage situation after firing and grenades.

At least 98 people were killed and more than 120 were injured in the two attacks which occurred nearly simultaneously. Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, as well as their Punjab wing, claimed responsibility for the attacks and were also blamed by the Pakistani Police.

The perpetrators lobbed grenades and started firing as they attacked two mosques of the minority Ahmadi sect in different residential neighbourhoods. Security officers were then involved in a gun battle with fighters ouside one of the mosques in Garhi Shahu district. The near simultaneous attacks were at Darul Zikr, Garhi Shahu and Bait-al Noor Lahore Model Town, 15 km apart.

The attackers at Garhi Shahu, including three suicide bombers, first killed the security guards, before storming into the prayer halls firing guns, throwing grenades and taking hostages.

The assault at Model Town involved four attackers opening fire on worshippers before exploding hand grenades. Sajjad Bhutta, the deputy commissioner of Lahore, said the death toll at Garhi Shahu was higher because three attackers blew themselves up with suicide vests packed with explosives when police tried to enter the building. The attackers killed anyone among the hostages who moved.